Basketball 2011: Kelly and Deep have been forging their friendship since middle school basketball

Friday

Dec 9, 2011 at 12:01 AM

Steve BrennerLedger Staff

Attending the same school, the same church and living on the same street would be a strong basis for any friendship.

But for Ariana Kelly and Alex Deep, those characteristics don't even begin to describe their friendship.

Both are junior guards on the Riverside girls basketball team, and have been playing basketball together since sixth grade. Kelly and Deep were members of the Holy Redeemer fifth-and sixth-grade girls basketball team in Ellwood City before they attended Riverside.

But both had been playing basketball long before they received formal coaching at Holy Redeemer.

Both of the girls have at least two older brothers or sisters who also played basketball for Riverside.

Kelly's three older sisters - Lauren, Erica and Gianna - scored a combined 483 points for John Wolf, and all three won a section title. Lauren graduated in 2005, Erica in 2007 and Gianna in 2010.

Ariana said she could remember countless driveway basketball games with her older sisters as well as her neighbors.

As fate would have it, the Kellys' neighbors were the Deeps, who are on their third player to come through the Riverside program.

Alex's older brothers Allen and Joey combined for 1,965 points in their career. Allen scored more than 1,200 points himself, and one of Joey's best moments as a player came when he hit a game-winning half-court buzzer-beater in the 2005 playoffs against Center.

While their older siblings were on the court, Ariana and Alex were on the sidelines gathering information and waiting for their chance to make their own memories.

When the two began playing organized basketball together, their coach at Holy Redeemer was Ariana's father, Larry.

"I have been coaching basketball for 16 years, and I have never had more enjoyment than watching and coaching the fifth-and sixth-grade girls team," said Larry. "And I could see that there was something special with that team."

The team went 26-2 that year, and lost in the diocese final at Pittsburgh Catholic. Members of the team included current Ellwood City players Isabella Williams, Angela McCowin, Reed Kegel, Morgan Ketterer and Kelly Roitz.

And the biggest critic of Larry as he coached the girls? Alex's father, Allen Deep. But any criticism was always welcomed as simply talking strategy between old friends.

Allen and Larry grew up in New Castle together, living close to each other and attending the same church.

The two remained friends through college and have been attending their kids' basketball games since Lauren and Allen were playing.

Allen said when he moved to his current address on Pine Hill, he added a half-court basketball court to his driveway, and kids from all over the neighborhood would come to play.

Even though Alex was the youngest player on the court, that never stopped her from playing.

"It was mostly all boys, so she played mostly against all boys," said Allen, who always kept a close eye on his only daughter to be sure the games didn't get too physical.

"It made me tougher," said Alex. "We would always play together, and they never took it easy on me. It made me want to push myself to be just as good as them. They had great careers, and I always thought 'I want to be just like them.'"

Both girls said the choice to play basketball was theirs, but the influence of their older siblings is what initially had them interested in the game.

Today, Lauren and Erica are attending law school at the University of Pittsburgh, while Gianna is earning an undergraduate degree at Pitt.

Allen and Joey live in Las Vegas, both working at different casinos. But the two call Alex every day, asking her how she is doing and asking about her basketball career.

And it's safe to say they would be proud of their little sister.

In their two seasons on the girls roster, Ariana and Alex have won 35 games, including a playoff win last season. The duo also helped the Lady Panthers to a section title last season.

This year, the two are projected starters, with coach Wolf looking to them as key components of the team's success.

"There is some pride built in there. Ariana and Alex have been around the girls and boys program, and they have seen the success and want to be a part of it," said Wolf.

Alex will be looked to as a strong wing player who can drive to the basket and facilitate the team's inside game, while Ariana will be more of a role-player. Ariana won't be expected to score a ton of points; rather her defense and decision-making are what will earn her playing time.

But coupling a physical playing style with mental toughness is the kind of player Larry wanted Ariana to be.

"The youngest of the children have to fight the hardest in any family," said Larry. "My girls were all smart and tough, but this one might be the toughest of the four, because she had to come up through the ranks."

Ariana said she is thankful for every lesson that she learned in the driveway.

"It was comforting. Since they were my sisters, they would push me, but not push me hard enough that I would break," said Ariana. "It was good because I could relate to them better than I could relate to a coach ... because they were my sisters."

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